Title: Clues from other animals and theoretical considerations
Abstract: In the first two papers of this volume, the genetic control of sex determination in Caenorhabditis and Drosophila is reviewed by Hodgkin and by Nöthiger & Steinmarin-Zwicky, respectively. Sex determination in both cases depends on the ratio of X chromosomes to autosomes, which acts as a signal to a cascade of règulatory genes located either on autosomes or on the X chromosome. The state of activity of the last gene in the sequence determines phenotypic sex. In the third paper, Erickson & Tres describe the structure of the mouse Y chromosome and the polymorphisms that have been detected in different mouse species and strains. As in all mammals, the Y carries the primary male-determining locus; autosomal genes may also be involved in sex determination, but they must act down-stream from the Y-linked locus. In the mouse, these loci may be responsible for the development of XY females, i.e. the failure of the Y chromosome to induce maleness, but XX male mice that carry no Y chromosomal material have not been detected. In contrast, de la Chapelle describes evidence for a human autosomal locus, TDFA, located on an autosome or pseudoautosomally on the X, defects in which can give rise to true masculinization, i.e. to XX men as well as to hermaphrodites.
Publication Year: 1987
Publication Date: 1987-03-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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